In a surprising political development ahead of the 2026 BMC elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have reportedly come together to challenge Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Ambarnath Municipal Council elections. According to reports, the BJP also joined hands with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the Akot Municipal Council in Akola district following the local body elections.
The alleged alliance has sparked sharp reactions across Maharashtra’s political spectrum. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reportedly expressed strong displeasure over the developments, terming the alliance with Congress “wrong”. He is said to have directed local BJP units to withdraw support from Congress in Ambarnath and AIMIM in Akot.
However, the Congress has denied any formal alliance with the BJP. Congress General Secretary Sachin Sawant dismissed the claims of the BJP-Congress alliance in Ambarnath.
In a post on the social media platform X, Sawant wrote, “In Ambarnath, setting aside party affiliations and symbols, various party workers have formed the Ambarnath Development Front against the corruption carried out by Shinde Sena at the local level. Independents are also included in this. Therefore, news reports claiming that Congress and BJP have come together are incorrect. Please take note. Even though the factual situation is as such, since permission from the district Congress was not obtained for this, notices are being issued to the concerned individuals.”
Congress suspends Ambarnath block president
Amid the controversy, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) suspended Ambarnath block Congress president Pradeep Patil. In a letter to the block president, MPCC Vice President Ganesh Patil highlighted that the state leadership was neither informed nor consulted before the local-level understanding with the BJP.
The letter reads: “We have fought elections on Congress symbol and we won 12 seats, but without informing the state leadership or the state office, you have done alliance with BJP and this has come to our knowledge through media sources. This is not a good thing, so as per instructions by the state president, Harshwardhan, you are being suspended from the party.”
In addition, the block Congress Executive Committee has been dissolved and some corporators have been suspended from the party, over violation of party discipline.
Opposition attacks BJP over ‘double standards’
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on the BJP for allying with Congress for political gains. It called out the party for going against its own slogan of “Congress-free India” in the Ambarnath municipal council.
He also criticised the BJP for being in alliance with Ajit Pawar’s NCP, stating that Ajit Pawar does not believe in Veer Savarkar’s ideology.
“BJP is a double-standard party. They have made an alliance with AIMIM in Akot, and Congress in Ambarnath. Modiji’s slogan is to make Congress-free India, but they are in alliance with Congress. They are double-standard people. Don’t trust them,” Sanjay Raut said.
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde has also reacted to the BJP-Congress alliance reports. He said, “Shiv Sena and the BJP have been in alliance for a long time… It has always been our aim to establish Mahayuti at the local level as well… You should ask the BJP’s senior leaders about this alliance with the Congress. Shiv Sena’s politics in Ambarnath has always been of development…” (06.01)
#WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra | On BJP-Congress joining hands for the Ambernath Municipal Election 2026, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde said, “Shiv Sena and the BJP have been in alliance for a long time… It has always been our aim to establish Mahayuti at the local level as well…… pic.twitter.com/KCKtmU1rkX
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2026
BMC polls 2026
The coming together of political parties with contrasting ideologies just ahead of the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections makes it all the more significant for the state’s political battlefield.
The polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, will be held on 15 January, with vote counting scheduled for 16 January.